Vegan diet the best for the planet - new study confirms

If you’re considering lowering your environmental footprint, consider adopting a vegan diet. It is the single best thing you can do for the environment.
According to a new study, going plant-based can have a massive positive impact on the environment. A plant-based diet helps to reduce climate-heating emissions, land use, water consumption, water pollution, land use and wildlife destruction.

In the study, researchers focused on the actual diets of 55,000 people in the UK and collected data from 38,000 farms located in 119 countries around the world. They provided substantial evidence supporting the vast environmental benefits of plant-based diets.

Vegan diet reduces climate change

The research shows that vegan diets result in an astonishing 75 per cent reduction in climate-heating emissions, water pollution, and land use compared to meat diets that include 100g of meat daily. In terms of the natural environment - adopting of vegan diet results in 66 per cent less wildlife destruction and 54 per cent less water usage.

The study is the first up-to-date research relying on actual diets rather than model diets and average values. This way, it provides a more accurate representation of the environmental impact of different diets.

Types of foods matter more than their production or location

The study results also show that the types of foods the participants consumed had a more significant effect on environmental impacts than their production methods or locations.
The scientists found out that even the lowest-impact meat, such as organic pork, causes eight times more climate damage than the highest-impact plant, which is oilseed.

Experts suggest drastic meat consumption reduction

Scientists emphasise the significance of dietary choices and encourage people to reduce their meat consumption in order to decrease their environmental footprint and adopt more sustainable diets.

According to scientists and experts, more people should drastically reduce their meat intake if we want to achieve the climate targets. We also need more policies that support shifting our food system to a more sustainable one.

Prof Peter Scarborough at Oxford University told The Guardian:
*“Our dietary choices have a big impact on the planet. Cutting down the amount of meat and dairy in your diet can make a big difference to your dietary footprint.”